Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek O’Brien has outlined 25 pressing demands for the Indian government to address in 2025, urging immediate action on key issues such as outstanding dues to West Bengal, the ongoing unrest in Manipur, and the welfare of farmers. In a blog post published on Thursday, O’Brien stressed the need for the Centre to take urgent steps to resolve these critical concerns.

O’Brien particularly focused on the Rs 1,500 crore owed to West Bengal under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, which he claimed has severely impacted the livelihoods of 59 lakh workers in the state. He called for the immediate release of these dues to alleviate the financial burden on workers.

The TMC leader also emphasized the need to control inflation, boost economic growth, and attract foreign investment to stabilize the economy. He further called for increased focus on the agricultural sector, advocating for legal guarantees for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of crops and highlighting the distressing rate of farmer suicides.

On the situation in Manipur, O’Brien demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit the state, which has been facing violence and displacement for over a year. He also raised concerns over the lack of a Deputy Speaker in the Lok Sabha and criticized the rapid passage of bills with insufficient consultation.

O’Brien also addressed the increasing targeting of opposition leaders, pointing out the rising suspensions of opposition MPs and the disproportionate number of Enforcement Directorate (ED) cases filed against them. He called for stronger safeguards for minorities in the face of escalating communal violence and hate speech.

In addition, the TMC leader advocated for legislative changes to improve women’s safety, including addressing marital rape, and called for greater representation of women in Parliament. He also urged the Centre to focus on improving public infrastructure and combating cyber fraud.

In his conclusion, O’Brien called for a more inclusive and people-centric approach to governance in 2025, ensuring that the needs of the common people are prioritized and equitable development is achieved across all sectors.